Grain tank for harvester-threshers



A. B. WELTY GRAIN TANK FOR HARVESTER-THRESHERS Sept. 23, 1941.

Filed March 2, 1959 Patented Sept. 23, 1941 GRAIN TANK FOR HARVESTER-THRESHERS Albert B. Welty, Moline, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Com New Jersey pany, a corporation of Application March 2, 1939, Serial No. 259,407

(01. 56 -122) This invention relates to a grain tank for- 1 Claim.

use with harvester threshers and the like. More specifically, it relates to an arrangement for dumping the grain tank of such a machine.

It is the usual practice to provide as a part of a harvester thresher a grain tank of considerable capacity, into which the threshed grain is conveyed and which may be unloaded from time to time into a wagon alongside the thresher. In some instances, these grain tanks have been rigidly mounted on the thresher and have sloping bottoms which facilitate the unloading of the grain. The disadvantage of this type of grain tank is that it must be made of large dimensions for a reasonable capacity because the sloping bottom of the tank reduces considerably the eiiective cross-sectional area of the tank. In other instances the grain tanks have been of circular or partially circular section and rotatably mounted on the thresher, so that they may be rotated about a fixed axis to effect dumping of the grain. A disadvantage of this type of grain tank is that it is difiicult to bring a. wagon into position adjacent the thresher so that the grain may be conveniently received from the grain tank. Under the present invention, the

grain tank is of generally circular shape and rolls along the framework of the thresher from a loading position up to a dumping position substantially beyond the wheel line, where it is over a wagon which receives the dumped grain.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved grain tank for a harvester thresher or the like machine.

A further object is the provision of a grain tank of relatively large capacity for small overall dimensions.

Another object is to provide a thresher construction which permits of easy dumping of a grain tank.

According to the present invention, a grain tank of generally circular shape is mounted on framework extending outwardly from the upper surface of the thresher body beyond the wheel line of the thresher. The grain tank rests upon the framework by means of circular end members having projections, by means of which members the grain tank is adapted to roll from a loading position substantially over a wheel to a dumping position beyond the wheel line, the projections engaging recesses successively in the framework in the movement from the loading position to the dumping position.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a front elevational view of a portion of a harvester thresher including a grain tank with a wagon standing alongside; and,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same portion of the. harvester thresher.

The harvester thresher construction of the present invention includes a thresher body 10 carried by wheels I I, only one of which is shown. A supporting structureis provided by the angle members l2 and l3 which extend upwardly from the upper surface of. the thresher body Ill substantially beyond the wheel I l. Angle members I4 and I5 extend upwardly from the wheel H and support the track-like angle members [2 and i3, respectively. Angle members It and. I! extend from an intermediate point of the members 14 and 5 to and beyond the extreme ends of the members l2 and I3.

Upright members l9 extend upwardly from the angle members l2 and I3 at a point adjacent the thresher body I0 and support angle members 20, also connected with the thresher body l0. At the end of the one member 20, a latch 2| is attached and has a control cord 22 extending down through an opening in a piece 23 secured on the member IS. A receptacle in the form of a grain tank 24 has a generally cylindrical shape, being of circular section except for a portion at the top, as viewed in Figure 1. Circular members 25 and 26 are attached to the ends of the grain tank 24 in concentric relation with the arcuate portions of the tank. The members 25 and 26 have projections 21, which are adapted to engage openings 28 in the angle members I2 and I3. A handle member 29 extends from one side of the grain tank. The end member 25 has a recess 30, which is adapted to be engaged by the latch 2|.

The grain tank shown in Figure 1 is in loading position with a mouth portion 3| extending upwardly and adapted to receive threshed grain from an elevator or conveyer 32, which is in communication with the thresher body. When the grain tank has been filled, and it is desired to empty it into a wagon 33 positioned alongside of the thresher, the latch 2! is released and the tank is allowed to roll from the full line position over the wheel ll along the angle members l2 and L3 to the dotted line dumping position. It will be observed that the mouth 3| of the tank extends downwardly, so that the tank empties into the wagon 33. Movement of the tank beyond the ends of the members I2 and I3 is prevented by the angle members It and I1. When the tank has been emptied, it may be rolled back to the original full line position by means of the handle 29, where it is held by reattachment of the latch 2| in the recess 30 of the end member 25. This same handle 29 may be used for initiating the rolling of the tank from loading to dumping position in case the tank does not roll of its own accord when the latch 2| is released. It is to be noted that the center f gravity of the filled tank will be above the center of the circular members 25 and 26 in the loadin position because the upper end of the tank is shaped outwardly beyond the circular. Consequently, the center of gravity of the filled tank is above the center of rolling and the tank will automatically roll to the dumping position as soon as the latchis released, so long as the center of gravity is not-absolutely over the center of rolling. It will be observed that the tank has moved bodily in going from loading.

Thus, a return of the tank to its original position with the mouth extending straight up is assured when the tank isagainst the upright member l9. It will be seen from the foregoing description that a novel thresher construction has been provided, by which a grain tank is moved simply and easily from a loading position well over the thresher body itself to a position well beyond the wheel line where it is directly over a Wagon receiving the grain as it is dumped.

The invention is obviously applicable to any form of crop-handling apparatus which has a container or tank for storing the crop.

It is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only Within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

For a thresher having a body, a wheel supporting the same, a framework extending from the body and into an overhanging position with respect to the wheel laterally from the body, hori zontal track-like tank supporting means disposed on said framework, a grain tank mounted above said supporting means said tank having a grain receiving opening at the top thereof and being provided with an arcuate supporting portion in rolling engagement with the supporting means on the frame structure, said arcuate portion have a center below the center of gravity of a loaded tank in upright grainreceiving position, means to deliver grain to said tank, and releasable tank retaining means said tank when loaded being readily tilted when released for rolling along the frame work to a top downward wheel-overhanging dumping position.

ALBERT B. WELTY. 

